Breathing

Abstract

Breathing is essential to life. Life begins with a person’s first breath and ends with the last. Breathing is automatic and usually involuntary, being controlled, like all other internal functions, by the autonomic or involuntary nervous system, and as we are not aware of all internal functions, we are not normally aware of breathing. The brain filters out many of the events that are happening constantly in order to focus on the more important things at hand. Things which are important for immediate survival are given top priority. Many people, if not most, breathe shallowly and haphazardly, going against the natural rhythmic movements of the respiratory system. Thus, despite the fact that breathing is one of the most vital functions of the body, it is often done improperly and is little understood. However, breathing is also unique in that it can be controlled by an act of will. Since we breathe between 16,000 and 20,000 times a day, breathing can be a very powerful tool in gaining some degree of control over our autonomic functions.